Employment
Unpaid childcare
About this topic
Unpaid childcare records whether people aged 15 years and over spent time looking after a child without pay, including their own children and other people's children. It reflects the role of parents, grandparents, extended family, and community networks in caring for children.
This topic helps show how childcare is supported outside the paid care sector and can highlight the role of family-based care. It is best interpreted with household type, employment, and income, because unpaid childcare patterns are shaped by family structure, work arrangements, and access to formal childcare.
Interpretation notes
- This records unpaid childcare in the previous two weeks for people aged 15 years and over, including care for a person's own children and other children.
- It identifies whether childcare was provided, not the number of hours or whether care was regular, occasional, or shared with formal services.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, not providing unpaid child care was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Cumbalum, accounting for 60.3% (1,027 people). This share was lower than Ballina (A) (68.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not providing unpaid child care, which increased by 1,024 people and 27 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Cumbalum - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Cumbalum in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumbalum, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
595
% of total
35.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
595
35.0%
+1.7pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
470
% of total
27.6%
Change from 2016
-5.7pp
470
27.6%
-5.7pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
112
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
112
6.6%
+6.6pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
16
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
16
0.9%
+0.9pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
1,027
% of total
60.3%
Change from 2016
+27.0pp
1,027
60.3%
+27.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
84
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
84
4.9%
+4.9pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
+592
+1.7pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
+467
-5.7pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
+112
+6.6pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
+16
+0.9pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+1,024
+27.0pp
Not Stated
+84
+4.9pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Cumbalum. Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 595 | 35.0% | 25.0% | 3 | 33.3% | 25.6% | +592 | +1.7pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 470 | 27.6% | 17.6% | 3 | 33.3% | 17.6% | +467 | -5.7pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 112 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 7.3% | +112 | +6.6pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 16 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% | +16 | +0.9pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 1,027 | 60.3% | 68.8% | 3 | 33.3% | 64.8% | +1,024 | +27.0pp |
| Not Stated | 84 | 4.9% | 6.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 9.5% | +84 | +4.9pp |
| Total | 1,702 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,693 | 0.0pp |